Graduation Season | Provo High School

It's that time of year again when young people (and some old people) don their funny pointed hats and receive a piece of paper in return for the countless hours of money and time they have spent gettin' ed-ju-ma-caded. In turn, photographers struggle to make something interesting out of a usually mundane and repetitive event. Sound familiar...? For what it's worth, Provo High School had the best graduation I photographed this spring season. Fun colors, lots of laughs and a group of girls burning some time with a game of Patty-cake before their big moment in the spotlight. Enjoy!

Hilary Finlayson, center, cracks up while playing a game with a group of her senior friends from Provo High School before their graduation night ceremony Thursday, May 24, 2012, at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Provo High had a graduating class of nearly 400 students in attendance.

Provo High School senior Madison Hall, left, straightens her cap under the careful observation of her friend on their graduation night Thursday, May 24, 2012, at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

Ropes Course | Standalone hunt

Another hot, slow newsday - time to hunt for some standalone art. Since my editor had shot at this location the week before, this image did not run. Regardless of its absence from print, I figured it was worthwhile enough of a picture to post. It's not perfect, but it reminds me of summer camp. Enjoy.

Charity Fashion Show | Pre-show feature

Pulled this one out of somewhere in the last half hour before deadline at an event that hadn't even begun at the time this photograph was shot. Long story short: a miracle, and I am happy with it. If you look carefully, the Brigham Young University signature "Y" can be seen set into the Utah hills in the corner of the left widow pane. Enjoy!

Models practice their runway walks by the glare of a single spotlight before a charity fashion show to benefit Sowers of Hope, an non-profit organization started by two Congolese locals on Friday, April 13, 2012, in Provo, Utah. The evening's events marked the third year of the popular show.

Night At The Museum

If you've ever had the chance to catch the Ben Stiller cinematic masterpiece, "Night At The Museum," you know it sucks. Yet, in real life, this idea - complete with a live T-Rex, a smart-mouthed mummy and a basket of free obsidian chunks - is undeniably cool. I was especially drawn to a young dancer that had seemed to come alive in her "painting." Childish wonder with a touch of adult organization behind the scenes almost always means fun pictures. Enjoy!

Callie Sweeten, 9, and her sister, Malena Sweeten, not pictured, twirled and danced in what appeared to be a framed picture as part of the first of three evenings of the annual Night at the Museum event Thursday, February 23, 2012, at Hutching Museum in Lehi, Utah.

Cottonwoods of Provo

Tagged along with Daily Herald staffer, James Roh, for an assignment of his on a slow day at the paper. This image, complete with its colors and tone, sums up the gamut of Utah County at this time of year. Enjoy the peace.

Say Yes To The Dress (...Feature?)

Apologies for the terrible title of this post.  Moving on.  I was out hunting features the other day and everything was coming up short.  I happened to glance into a bridal shop on State Street in Provo and violá - problem solved.  Although these did not end up running due to a lack of page space the next day, I still like the feeling you get from them.  I couldn't pick one, so here's three.  Enjoy the prep for the greatest day of someone else's life!

Madeline Bodine, 21, right, tries on wedding dresses with her friend and BYU classmate, Mindy Westover, 22, left, on Monday, Jan. 9. 2012, at the Bridal Center in downtown Provo. Bodine is set to wed Andrew Barrett, another BYU student, not pictured, on April 21 at the Salt Lake Temple.

First Day | Daily Herald

I think it is only right to post some frames from the first day of every internship, whether they are good or bad.  The images made the first day are personal benchmark; a sort of starting place that should serve as a constant reminder of what was as time rushes onward.  On my final day at the Herald, I will look back at this post - and hopefully laugh.

Fitness fair.  Weather features.  BYU basketball.  Fun first day.  Enjoy a chuckle at my expense.

 Cycling and kickboxing instructor, Sarah Fossum, right, leans away from the bare foot of Emily Peay, center, a dance and cardio party instructor, during a yoga demonstration for onlookers during the Health & Fitness Fair Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at the Pleasant Grove Community Center. Fossum and Peay, along with the other women in the demonstration, all work as instructors at the community center. The event offered informational stations boasting new health programs and products for attendees.

Bryan Niven, center right, works with his father, Jeff Niven, right, to roll the base of their third snowman Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at Rock Canyon. Bryan, his wife and his two children enjoyed the light dusting of snow with his parents, both of whom recently relocated to Utah from Southern California.

Brothers Skyler Crawford, left, and Spencer Crawford, right, chase after their friend, Ethan Gaylord, with intent to pelt him with snowballs Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, in Pleasant Grove. Before the battle, the trio enjoyed sledding down the hill outside of the Pleasant Grove Community Center. "We're bummed about the little snow so far," Skyler said, "but we're taking advantage of what we have."

San Francisco's Perris Blackwell (22) pushes through a pack of BYU defense at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012.

Welcome to Utah!

Long story short: getting my body and my stuff to Utah in light of my acceptance to the photo internship at the Provo Daily Herald has been a journey of journeys.  Better story: I am officially living and working out of Utah County from now until June 2012 with a killer photo staff: photo editor & photographer Mark Johnston and staff photographers James Roh and Spenser Heaps.

After (somewhat) settling in, I was introduced to Rock Canyon, which can be seen from my office window and driven to in five minutes for a hike or a chill lunch spot. As I take in the stunning natural beauty of this area, let these opening images serve as a scene setter for my photographic existence in Utah.  Thanks for peeking in!